2008 Annual Report, Goffstown, New Hampshire
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2008 Annual Report Goffstown, New Hampshire (T P if- >iKi^" ^t '*^iii B if: EMERGENCY FIRE & AMBULANCE SERVICE 911 OR 497-3311 POLICE 911 OR 497-2232 POISON CENTER 800-562-8236 TOWN HALL 497-8990 Admin/Selectmen Ext. 100 Planning 117 Assessor 112 Sewer 116 Building 114 Tax Collector 110 Finance 104 Town Clerk 107 TOWN DEPARTMENTS Fire (Church St.) 497-3619 Parks & Recreation 497-3003 Fire (E. Goffstown) 497-4655 Police 497-4858 Fire (Pinardville) 622-6713 Public Works 497-3617 Library 497-2 1 02 Transfer Station 497-4824 SCHOOLS Bartlett Elementary 623-8088 Mt. View Middle 497-8288 Maple Ave. Elem. 497-3330 Goffstown High 497-4841 Glen Lake School 497-3550 SAU #19 Admin. 497-4818 VILLAGE DISTRICTS Goffstown Water 497-3621 Grasmere Water 497-8346 Cover Photo Courtesy ofDavid Suitor 2008 Goffstown Annual Report Dedication Police Chief Michael T. French, Ret. It was September 1973 when Michael French began his career with the Town of Goffstown, a career which spanned 34 years. Since he was not old enough to carry a gun, he began as a Dispatcher. When he became of age, he became a volunteer Special Police Officer and continued his paid position as a dispatcher. In 1976 he became a full-time Police Officer. He held the specialized assignments of Juvenile Specialist, K-9 Handler and Explorer Post Advisor. In 1984 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal while working in the Juvenile Division. It did not take him long to rise to the rank of Sergeant in charge of Detectives in 1986. Three years later he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He was the Accreditation Manager and instrumental in preparing the Goffstown Police Department for international accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (GALEA) in 1992. This was no small fete, as Goffstown was the first town in New Hampshire to become accredited utilizing our valued part-time officers. He received a Distinguished Service Medal in 1992 for his dedication to the accreditation process. In 1995 he became Captain, Executive Officer, a position he held until his promotion to Chief of Police in 1999. Chief French served as Police Chief until his well earned retirement in April 2008. Mike is an active volunteer in Goffstown and the state. Organizations such as Goffstown Junior Baseball, Goffstown Main Street Program, Crispin' House, Rotary Club and Camp Fatima have benefitted from his active volunteerism. Chief French and his wife Sue continue to reside in Goffstown where they raised their two children, Bruce and Missy. Since his retirement he enjoys more time with his grand-daughter Susan Rose who he adores. Chief French dedicated his entire 34-year Law Enforcement career to the Town of Goffstown. We are grateful for his loyalty and dedication to the town. Goffstown is a better place to live and work because of Michael T. French. Therefore, it is with great pride and thanks that the Goffstown Board of Selectmen dedicate the 2008 Annual Report to retired Police Chief Michael T. French. 2008 Goffstown Annual Report Table of Contents Dedication 1 Cable TV Community Access 104 Table of Contents 2 Information Technology 105 Town Information 3 Capital Improvements Program 106 Meeting Schedule 5 Community Development 107 People Serving Goffstown 6 Planning Board 113 TOWN GOVERNMENT Economic Development 114 Executive Reports Conservation Commission 115 Selectmen 10 Zoning Board of Adjustment 116 New Hampshire Senate 13 Historic District/Heritage 117 2009 Warrant 14 Southern NH Planning 119 Election Results and Vital Statistics Fire... 121 Ballot Det. Mtg. Minutes (2008) 18 Police 128 Election Results Parks & Recreation 132 Presidential Primary 36 Public Library 135 Special State Election 37 Public Works 138 Town Election 38 Solid Waste Commission 139 State Primary 46 Cemetery Trustees 140 General Election 48 Other Agency Reports Vital Statistics Sewer Commission 141 Births 50 Goffstown Village Water 144 Marriages 51 Grasmere Village Water 149 Civil Unions 55 OFFICIAL BALLOTS Deaths 56 Town Ballot I Interments 59 School Ballot V Financial Reports SCHOOL DISTRICT Auditor's Management Letter 60 Executive Reports Independent Auditor's Report 62 School Board Report 1 MD&A 65 Superintendent's Report 3 Selectmen Response 71 Ballot Det. Mtg. Minutes (2008) 5 2008 Inventory Valuation (MS-1) 72 Election Results 12 Schedule of Town Property 73 2009 Warrant 14 Assessor's Report 79 Pupil Enrollment 16 Revised Est. Revenues (MS-4) 80 Financial Reports Town Budget (MS-7) 82 Auditor's Management Letter 17 Tax Rate Calculation (2008) 88 Independent Auditor's Report 20 Tax Collector (MS-61) 89 MD&A 21 Balance Sheets 91 Revenues 27 Treasury Report 92 Debt Schedule 28 Debt Schedule 93 Budget 29 Town Clerk & Transactions 94 Principals ' Reports Supervisors of the Checklist 96 Glen Lake School 30 Trustees of Trust Funds 97 Bartlett School 31 Support Services 102 Maple Ave. School 32 Department & Committee Reports Mountain View Middle 33 Budget 103 Goffstown High School 34 2008 Goffstown Annual Report Town Information In 1 734 Goffstown and West Manchester were designated as Narragansett No. 4 but the settlement of the town did not begin in earnest until the 1740s. The Town of Goffstown, incorporated 1761, is named for Colonel John Goffe, an early settler, soldier, and civic leader. Goffstown was originally a farming community. As the town was settled during the 1760s, the timber that was cleared was used in building ships. Oxen drew the wood to the village of Piscataquog and from there it was floated by raft to Newburyport, Massachusetts. The oxen route became known as Mast Road, now the main road through town. Goffstown is located at 43° 01' N and 71° 36' W in Hillsborough County nine miles west of Manchester on NH Route 114; north of Bedford on Route 1 14; east of New Boston on Route 13; south of Weare on Route 114; and 16 miles from Concord, the state capital of New Hampshire. The town has three boroughs or regions: Goffstown Village, Grasmere Village and Pinardville. The Town has a population of approximately 17,784 (2004 OEP) and occupies approximately 36.9 square miles. Town Hall elevation is 306' above sea level, and the top of Mt. Uncanoonuc is 1,321' above sea level. A five member Board of Selectmen governs Goffstown. Legislative policy, including passage of the Town Budget, is determined by the annual Town Meeting. The Town provides a full array of governmental services, library and recreational services. At the 1996 Annual Meeting residents passed RSA 40:13 changing the traditional town meeting to a ballot determination meeting followed by an official ballot. TOWN HALL : Located at 16 Main Street, the Town Hall houses the following offices: Administration/Selectmen, Assessing, Building, Finance, Information Technology, Planning & Zoning, Sewer, Tax Collector, and Town Clerk. Town Hall office hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Town Clerk : Voter registration is with the Supervisors of the Checklist or Town Clerk. To register to vote, one must be 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen and a resident of Goffstown. New voter registrations for local, state and federal elections may be done at the polls on Election Day. For eligibility to vote at the Ballot Determination Meeting you must register 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. Absentee ballots are available to qualified voters for all elections. Dog licenses expire on April 30 each year. A dog must be licensed at 4 months of age. A rabies certificate is required. Fees are $6.50 for neutered pets, $9.00 unaltered. A penalty of $1.00 per month is assessed as of June 1 for unlicensed dogs. Automobile registrations, initiated at the Town Clerk's office, are due and renewable in the birth month of the resident owner. Registration decals are available for an additional fee of $2.50. Passenger, motorcycle, trailer and tractor plates are also available in this office. The Town is on-line with NH Division of Motor Vehicles to provide a full range of motor vehicle registration services, including boat registrations. You must present your driver's license and your state issued renewal form, or previous registration. 2008 Goffstown Annual Report Property Taxes : Goffstown collects property taxes semi-annually; payments are due at the Tax Collector's Office July I and December 1. Property is assessed as of April 1. Town-wide valuation update was completed in 2008. The tax rate for 2008 was $22.69 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. Zoning : The Zoning Ordinance for the Town of Goffstown was originally adopted and made effective on March 14, 1961. The Ordinance regulates land use in town and zoning amendments are adopted at the Annual Town Meeting. FIRE DEPARTMENT : The Fire Department provides services to the community from three (3) facilities that are located throughout the Town. Fire Stations are located on Tirrell Hill Road in East Goffstown, Church Street in the Village and Mast Road in Pinardville. The Department's Administration Office is located at the Village Fire Station and can be contacted by calling 497-3619. POLICE : The Goffstown Police Department is located on Route 1 14 across from the State Prison for Women. The department provides emergency response to a variety of situations within the community 24 hours a day. PUBLIC WORKS : The Public Works Department is located at 404 Elm Street adjacent to the Transfer Station facility. Its office is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. The Transfer Station for solid wastes and recyclables is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm.